Above: For once, Bond is unaware of
the background to the current crisis troubling M.

Capsule Synopsis
James Bond is sent to the Seychelles to investigate when, Sea
Salve, a top secret British and American joint military venture,
goes missing in the Indian Ocean. His suspicion is drawn to the
rich and obnoxious Milton Krest who owns companies involved with
the development of the drone submarine. Under the cover of a civil
servant, 007 helps Krest hunt for the fish dubbed the Hildebrand
Rarity on his luxury cruise liner, but can he uncover the Sea
Slave conspiracy?

Above: The opening panel of "The
Hildebrand Rarity"

Above: Bond is torn between Nyla and
Liz when trying to decide who killed Krest.

Source To Strip
As with the preceding "Octopussy" adaptation,
Jim Lawrence makes his own additions to Fleming's character
driven short story to add weight and action to the plot.

Lawrence adds a "McGuffin" device in the form
of Sea Slave, a high-tech drone submarine created by a joint
UK & US venture. Krest has knowledge of the project
through his companies which developed the craft, and steals
it during a test run with the assistance of a German crew.

Fleming's male Bond-ally character Fidele Barbey has been
exchanged by Lawrence for the more shapely and sultry Nyla
Larsen, leaving Bond uncertain as to which of the two women
killed Krest in the story's conclusion.

Best Line
Nyla: "You must be mad, James - passing up an offer like
that!"
Bond: "Maybe - but every time I think of Milt Krest, I sort
of choke up!"

Trivia
The Sea Slave "McGuffin" device from "The Hildebrand
Rarity" comic strip version is very similar to the ATAC which
featured in the 1981 movie version of "For Your Eyes Only",
and Milton Krest from Fleming's short story appeared in the 1989
film "Licence To Kill".